Owen J. Roberts overtakes Phoenixville, 21-10
BUCKTOWN >> Owen J. Roberts and Phoenixville both had numerous players who came up with key plays during Friday night’s Pioneer Athletic Conference football contest.
But it was the host Wildcats who came away with a 21-10 victory over thee Phantoms in the contest played in the rain and wind at Henry Bernat Field at Wildcat Stadium.
Phoenixville took a 3-0 first-quarter lead on a 38-yard field goal by Miguel Ramirez. The Wildcats came back with a second-period touchdown on an 8-yard run by Rayquon Stewart to take a 7-3 lead into halftime.
The Wildcats (2-1 PAC-10, 2-3 overall) then added a pair of second-half touchdowns to record the victory. Phoenixville scored its touchdown in the fourth quarter on a 3-yard run by Matt Palubinsky, who had his usual workhorse night by making plays on both sides of the football.
Owen J. Roberts’ Bryce Weeks rushed for 93 yards and doubled on defense in the secondary while quarterback/defensive back Mitch Bradford and Khalil Stewart contributed touchdown runs.
Conor Mitchell was an Owen J. Roberts lineman who also had an exceptional evening. He helped lead a Wildcat defense that limited the Phantoms to 37 yards rushing and 112 yards of total offense, including a sack he shared with teammate Nick Duliakis.
“Our defense played really well,” said Mitchell. “We got a lot of pressure on them. Our line linebackers played well as well and our secondary played amazing defending the passes.”
Owen J. Roberts rotated running backs, using Bradford on keepers and then dividing the touches among Weeks, Rayquon and Khalil Stewart, Adam Pinelli and Adam Buehler. Bradford only put the ball in the air four times, but completed two passes to C.J. Weaver for 56 yards.
Palubinsky rushed 18 times for 31 yards and caught four passes for 53 yards, including a 43-yarder.
The Phantoms’ Melvin Obando blocked a pair of kicks and Ian Brown forced a fumble and made the recovery. Brown also had three grabs for 14 yards. Linebacker Kyle Bennick powered the
Phoenixville defense while quarterback Troy Rossman finished 8-for-19 for 75 yards.
The Wildcats paid special attention to Phoenixville standout receiver Nasir Green, with Bradford shadowing with some help over the top. OJR held Green did to just one gain for 12 yards.
Owen J. Roberts totaled 208 yards of total offense with 152 stripes coming on the ground.
“We put our best athlete (Bradford) on 88 (Green),” said Owen J. Roberts coach Rich Kolka. “The key was we were able to get pressure. We did not allow them to drop back and throw the deep pass.
Phoenixville coach Evan Breisblatt was proud of his players despite the setback. He felt they showed considerable improvement from last week’s loss to Pottsgrove.
“We battled them,” said Breisblatt. “It was a tough game. We ran Pal (Palubinsky) a lot. We got him a lot of touches. Weeks is a big, strong, tough back for them.”
Notes >> Phoenixville’s Jon Miller and Brown shared a sack … Green recovered a fumble on an Obando block. … Owen J. Roberts got some big defensive plays from Bradford, Weeks, Mitchell, Dawson Stuart, Bill Scherfel, Duliakis, Dan Hultz, Buehler, Pinelli, P.J. Gadzicki and Ted Bradford. … Phoenixville has its Homecoming game next Friday night against Pottstown while Owen J. Roberts has its Homecoming game against Spring-Ford on Oct. 16.
